Month In Review – November issue 2019

by | Oct 31, 2019 | Community

A reflection on our communities past month’s achievements, community development and awesomeness!

COC Wins Big at Homecoming Game
After College of the Canyons celebrated its 50th anniversary with pre-game activities in late September, the school won big with a score of 31-17 against Cerritos College. The game marked a continuation of COC’s football success, leaving them 3-1 thus far in the season. COC was set to play its first away game of the season against Golden West College the second weekend of October.

COC Professor Receives 8th Grammy Nomination
Yalil Guerra, a music professor at COC, recently received his 8th Latin Grammy nomination for his album, “Cuba: The Legacy”. The nomination comes in anticipation of the 2020 Latin Grammy’s, for which Yalil’s album has been put up for the category of Best Classical Album. After winning a Latin Grammy in 2012, Guerra has made a name for himself as one of the most prominent music instructors at COC and at UCLA, both at which he teaches his subject with a passion.

Keeping Santa Clarita Green
This year’s Clean Air Day encouraged SCV residents to ditch their cars and opt for a cleaner method of transportation – all with the help of the city. To help foster a community more dedicated to keeping Santa Clarita green, the city provided free local and commuter trips on city buses, with a one-month transit pass raffle as an added incentive. The city also offered free electric vehicle charging at various locations throughout SCV, making it easy to get involved and #KeepSCVGreen.

The Return of the Star Party
College of the Canyons hosted this year’s Star Party in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11’s moon landing. The party featured COC professors as speakers on the topic, and the event also served as an exciting celebration of the college’s 50th anniversary as well. The Star Party was an opportunity to bring students, staff, and the general public together to enjoy an amazing moment in American history, and the event was equal parts fun and educational.

Earthquake Preparedness: A Must for Santa Clarita
College of the Canyons held its Great Shakeout earthquake drill earlier in the month, prepping students for the potential earthquake threats that accompany Santa Clarita’s location along the San Andreas fault. Both the Valencia and Canyon Country campuses were completely evacuated, and students learned their designated meetup spots to better prepare themselves.

Henry Mayo’s New Patient Tower
A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the unveiling of its most recent achievement: a brand new patient tower. Highlights of the new tower include a Center for Women and Newborns, as well as the addition of almost 100 private patient rooms and more amenities for patients and visitors alike. The tower came to fruition after over a decade of planning and construction.

Santa Clarita Soars Above
A recent statewide test revealed that students in all five school districts within SCV surpassed state averages in both math and English testing. The news is an exciting testament to the districts’ dedication to student education and excellence, and the Department of Education released results displaying a clear upward trend in test scores among SCV schools across all grades.

COC Receives Science Grant
A grant totaling almost $400,000 was bestowed upon College of the Canyons by Sen. Scott Wilk and Assemblywoman Christy Smith to aid in the modernization of the Valencia campus’ science buildings. With the college having recently passed its 50th anniversary, the grant comes with the hopes of ushering COC into a new chapter of growth and advancement, beginning with renovating some of the school’s oldest facilities.

The Return of the Gran Fondo
The end of September brought with it the return of the Gran Fondo, an exciting cycling race tailored to both experienced riders and beginning cyclists alike. The Gran Fondo race benefited the Police Unity Tour, an organization honoring members of the force who have died in the line of duty. The tour featured three different courses, allowing cyclists of all ranks to participate and work towards a good cause while enjoying the great outdoors.

Saddle Ridge Fire
As of the end Of October, the Saddle Ridge Fire burned nearly 9000 acres, destroying 19 structures and damaging almost 90 more after it began in early October. Beginning in the northern San Fernando area, the blaze quickly spread from the high winds resulting in road and freeway closures. When the fire spread was at its peak an estimated 100,000 residents were mandatory evacuated, which are now over. Fire fighters and law officials are still unclear of the cause, but will update accordingly once more information is available.

Moore Makes Donation for Wellness Center Books
Dr. Cherise Moore has donated the funds necessary for the two Wellness Centers in the District to buy positive affirmation self-help books.
Dr. Moore and the entire Hart District governing board began looking into student wellness two years ago when it was widely reported stress and anxiety levels were rising. After hearing reports from all of the District’s schools and touring other wellness centers in Southern California, the decision to open these two centers was made.
“The Wellness Centers provide a safe place for students who may need an adult to talk to about life’s stresses,” Dr. Moore said. “The highly skilled professionals in the Wellness Centers can share coping skills and strategies to help students know how to handle the many stresses of life.”

Outstanding Educators!
The California Teacher of the Year program, which began in 1972, has brought recognition to exemplary teachers, paying tribute to their resolute efforts. With the District’s many outstanding teachers, the staff takes pride in identifying and honoring its own heroes of Hart District classrooms. The 16 William S. Hart Union High School District Teachers of the Year for the 2019/20 school year were recognized by the Governing Board Wednesday. The District Teacher of the Year is Laurel Priesz, an English teacher at Canyon High School.  Laurel is now one of 16 teachers being considered for the Los Angeles County Teacher of the Year.

 

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Tyra Ghamghamy

Tyra Ghamghamy